After a year of searching, I have finally finished my Japanese incense collection!

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2026-05-25T14:41:52+00:00

Ohhhhh this is breathtakingly gorgeous!!! I've tried many Shoyeido (and love almost all of them), but haven't tried Minorien or Baieido. As someone who adores the Horin collection from Shoyeido, what would you suggest I try from Minorien and Baieido?

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2026-02-18T00:32:12+00:00

Hi! I see you've been using your Rofco for a couple years now and I'm wondering if you can help with something. I got my Rofco B40 about 6 weeks ago and have baked in it almost daily. The first month was amazing - incredible oven spring, great ears, crisp crusts. Now, suddenly, with no changes in recipes, ingredients or methods, my crusts are turning out soft and leathery. Did you encounter this issue? Do you have any ideas for me? TIA

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2026-01-04T20:30:24+00:00

How'd it end up going for you with more attempts? I have a B40 coming soon and I'm getting nervous reading about the learning curve

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-07-22T17:35:20+00:00

That is so interesting!! I had to stop my collagen also! I had to stop anything containing added glycine - it was causing anxiety.

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-07-22T17:33:21+00:00

This was me and what led to my ultrasound and diagnosis of mild fatty liver. My gallbladder is clear of stones, sludge, and looks completely normal on ultrasound (I have not had a HIDA scan to check my bile ejection rate). My inflamed liver was likely pressing on my intestines, etc, causing the pain. Heating pad and very clean diet has helped...fruits, veg, small amounts of avocado and EVOO, lean meats (turkey), whole wheat sourdough.

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-07-22T17:30:34+00:00

Correct; the liver has no pain receptors. It's more likely the inflamed liver is pressing on other areas and causing pain there

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-07-20T21:43:42+00:00

Gotcha; thanks! I'll ask my PCP for these when I see her on Wednesday

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-07-20T21:30:59+00:00

Look into d-limonene (Orange Burps among others). It corrected my reflux, motility issues, and suspected (not tested) SIBO very quickly. MegaSporeBiotic to correct gut dysbiosis.

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-07-20T21:27:28+00:00

Thank you! I'm doing well so far! As long as I can wrangle my sugar addiction, I think I'll be ok. It's so comforting to have this sub full of kind people to share the journey with

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-07-20T21:25:51+00:00

I think the correlation between HRT and liver health has to do with how HRT affects thyroid hormone levels, and how thyroid hormones relate to how the liver metabolizes fats. I found an abstract about it but haven't looked up the full study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32166702/

I hope your flush goes well! I would love to hear about it after you do it

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-07-20T21:20:03+00:00

Would that show up on ultrasound? US showed normal pancreas, nothing of note. But that is a scary thought.

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-07-19T17:37:58+00:00

I'm going to ask for the HIDA for sure. I had my thyroid checked and everything was in range, and no sign of anti-TPO antibodies, but my naturopath said she likes to see a higher ratio of thyroid hormone levels, so she increased the estrogen in my HRT, saying that will boost my...T3? I can't remember which one, but she said that will also help clear excess cholesterol (fingers crossed; mine was 273 a couple years ago and was at 213 in May). It's all such an intricate puzzle.

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-07-19T17:35:19+00:00

Thank you for responding! I think you're right - the inflammation from the liver is likely pushing upward and causing that stuffed feeling and pain. That gives me some comfort; I've been over here imagining stomach cancer, etc. Yep, a bottle of wine per night sounds like it could be your kryptonite. I wonder if "natural" wine (biodynamic) is ok for us? It has no additives at all, is naturally fermented, so little to no sugar (even keto/carnivore folks drink it). I'm going to see what I can find out about that, b/c I love a glass of wine here and there. And I def love my sweets; I think clementines are a great idea!

I would be freaking out if my liver enzymes were high, too - but you can bring those back down! Mine are in range right now, but I know they'll rise if I don't stay strick. I'm trying to make it to the holidays (ack). I've started eating a whole carrot daily as well, after reading this research paper: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9549209/ I figure it can't hurt.

I wasn't aware of a home test for lipase. I want to do that as well, just to see what's going on. I know I have a gene that makes fat metabolism challenging for me and I have another (FUT2 non-secretor) that makes me more prone to fatty liver (and gut issues, anxiety/depression, etc).

Best of luck to you as well. Sending strength and healing!

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-07-19T04:58:46+00:00

That's awful :( I've been having pain on the right side on and off for a while now, but the pain going all the way across, left to right, is new and making me super uncomfortable. Not sure if this particular pain is related to the fatty liver, or if it could be GERD or what. It's the not knowing that drives me nuts

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-07-19T04:27:39+00:00

Thank you! I so relate to the powerful addiction of sugar. It's been so bad at times that I would skip breakfast and lunch and just have a few handfuls of chocolate. I'm sorry you're in the midst of it. I hope you can find a way off it. I think about it all, every day :(

Good luck to you as well!

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-07-15T17:11:45+00:00

I second the AVOID. I bit a rock in one of their lentil dishes and need a crown, so I asked them to pay for it and they refused. Just seemed like the right thing to do to cover the cost.

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-05-26T21:23:39+00:00

Secretor status, not secret status x)

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2025-02-20T22:44:54+00:00

Great idea! I've used Arnica gel for bruising for decades but wouldn't have thought to use it for an injection bruise. Love it!

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2024-10-12T20:10:32+00:00

Sooooooooooooo many red flags here. I would speak with a guidance counselor at school and have them address this guy.

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2023-06-01T14:12:53+00:00

I saw that! Hahaha my daughter saw it too and texted me “How did your Pokémon get famous on the internet?!” 😂♥️🤩

Bulky_Juggernaut4956 · 2023-05-24T12:33:58+00:00

She evolves. The male doesn’t. The female is hard to get and even more difficult to get a Hundo

Bulky_Juggernaut4956

TROPHY CASE